US3578023A

US3578023A - Wall-mounted pivotable flow-directing assembly

Info

Publication number: US3578023A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Diemond; Melvin Y Gershman; Fred A Ravreby
Original assignee: Coleco Industries Inc
Current assignee: Coleco Industries Inc
Priority date: 1969-04-10
Filing date: 1969-04-10
Publication date: 1971-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-11

Abstract

An assembly adapted for mounting on a wall of a pool or the like for directing the flow of water thereinto includes a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber and a generally spherical flow-directing member seated therein. The flowdirecting member has an axial passageway and is pivotable in the chamber to position the passageway between the inlet and outlet openings of the chamber in a multiplicity of angular attitudes to control the direction of flow. A resilient gasket in the chamber has a circular aperture therein which is configured and dimensioned to snugly seat the flow-directing member to restrain movement thereof and form a seal therewith.

Description

United States Patent Inventors Joseph Diemond Simsbury; Melvin Y. Gershman, West Hartford, Conn.; Fred A. Ravreby, Framingham, Mas

Apr. 10, 1969 May 11, 1971 Coleco Industries, Inc. Hartford, Conn.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee WALL-MOUNTED PIVOTABLE FLOW- DIRECTING ASSEMBLY 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 137/592, 4/172.17, 239/284 Int. Cl E04h 3/16 Fleldof Search 137/592; 4/172. 17, 172.19; 239/499, 265.35, 601; 98/40 2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,755,729 7/1956 Galbraith et al. 98/40(A) 2,885,943 5/ 1959 Divizia 98/40(A) 3,008,649 11/1961 Bock et al. 239/284 3,067,955 12/1962 Heath 239/284X 3,320,623 5/1967 DAntonio, Sr. 4/ 172.19

Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney-Peter L. Costas ABSTRACT: An assembly adapted for mounting on a wall of a pool or the like for directing the flow of water thereinto includes a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber and a generally spherical flow-directing member seated therein. The flow-directing member has an axial passageway and is pivotable in the chamber to position the passageway between the inlet and outlet openings of the chamber in a multiplicity of angular attitudes to control the direction of flow. A resilient gasket in the chamber has a circular aperture therein which is configured and dimensioned to snugly seat the flowdirecting member to restrain movement thereof and form a seal therewith.

PIVOTABLE FLOW-DIRECTING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In swimming pools and the like a need exists for a device whichmay be readily adjusted to vary the direction of the flow of water entering thereinto. Such directional control is desirable to provide a proper circulation pattern of the water within the pool for most efiicient filtration, to direct the flow of water against the bottom of the pool to agitate accumulations of sediment or sand and suspend the matter so as to facilitate its removal, and to permit entering cold water to be directed against the side of the swimming pool to minimize the discomfort to bathers using it.

Although devices for this purpose are currently available, they are often inconvenient to'manipulate for alteration of the direction of flow and sometimes require partial disassembly or a loosening of the elements thereof for that purpose. Secondly, the means of engagement provided therein frequently requires relative rotation of the parts, which, when a thin flexible element is present, such as gaskets and the type of plastic liners generally provided in above ground swimming pools, crimping or wrinkling can occur which tends to result in leakage from the pool. Thirdly, the seals which are formed internally are often not sufficiently watertight or of the most desirable type so that undue wear may often occur.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flow-directing assembly which is relatively simple in construction and which requires relatively few parts, thus making it economical to manufacture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such an assembly wherein the effectiveness of the seals formed both internally and with the pool structure in which it is mounted are of a high order of effectiveness and durability.

Another object is to provide an assembly of the type described wherein the parts thereof are engageable without relative rotation to avoid crimping or wrinkling of thin, flexible elements adjacent thereto such as a pool liner.

Still another object is to provide such an assembly wherein the angular attitude of the flow passage can be readily altered without disassembly or loosening of the elements of the device, while at the same time providing and maintaining highly effective sealing action.

WALL-MOUNTED SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects can be readily attained in a flow-directing assembly comprising-a housing having a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber with opposed inlet and outlet openings thereto. A generally spherical flow-directing member is seated in the chamber and has an axial passageway therethrough with an outlet end smaller than the outlet opening of the chamber. The flow-directing member is pivotably seated in the chamber to position the passageway thereof between the inlet and outlet openings in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of the inlet and outlet openings to control the direction of flow of fluid through the socket portion.

The assembly also includes a resilient gasket retained in the socket portion and projecting into the chamber, and the gasket has a circular aperture in which the flow-directing member is seated. The aperture of the gasket and the flowdirecting member are cooperatively dimensioned and configured to provide snug seating of the member within the gasket during operation of the assembly, whereby the frictional contact therebetween in operation will restrain the pivotal movement of the member and provide an effective seal therebetween.

Generally, the assembly will be adapted for mounting in an aperture provided in the sidewall of a swimming pool or like structure, and the assembly will include means about the periphery of the housing for engaging the sidewall and mounting the assembly thereon. Preferably, the housing has a front LII section providing the outlet opening and adapted for mounting on the inside of the sidewall and a rear section providing the inlet opening and adapted for mounting on the outside of the sidewall. Both of these sections have complementary peripheral flanges for contact with opposite surfaces of the sidewall about the aperture therein, and'a plurality of fastening members extend axially through the flanges and the sidewall to mount the sections on the sidewall.

Preferably, a pair of gaskets is provided to lie adjacent each surface of the sidewall and extend radially between the peripheral flanges on the housing at the intended points of engagement with the sidewall, so as to form a seal thereat. Most desirably, the peripheral flanges have circumferential bosses extending towards each other on the surfaces mountable adjacent the sidewall, and these bosses provide pressure points acting on the gasket to enhance the effectiveness of the seal with the sidewall. The inlet end of the axial passageway. through the flow-directing member should be larger than the outlet end thereof and also larger than the inlet opening to the chamber to provide optimum operating characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a flowdirecting assembly embodying the present invention as DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Turning first in detail to the components of the assembly as illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 3 of the appended drawing, the flow-directing assembly has a housing formed of an outer section and an inner section generally designated by the numerals I0 and 28 respectively. The outer section I0 has a socket portion 12 with an internal surface of spherical configuration as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 and an annular flange 14 extends radially outwardly about the inner end thereof. Projecting axially inwardly from the flange 14 are inner and outer annular bosses l6 and I8, and a multiplicity of holes 20 are spaced about the web of the flange 14 between the bosses I6, 18. Extending axially outwardly from the outer end of the socket portion 12 is a cylindrical hose extension or coupling 24 and the inlet opening 26 is defined by the juncture thereof with the inner surface of the socket portion 12.

The annular section 28 of the housing has a socket portion 29 largely defined by the internal contour of the lip 30 which extends about the aperture therethrough, and the outlet opening 32 of the socket portion 29 is defined by the outer end of the lip 30. The internal surface of the socket portion 29 is generally spherical with a radius essentially equal to that of the spherical surface of the socket portion 12. As in the case of the outer section 10, the inner section has an annular flange 34 extending about the inner end thereof with concentric inner and outer

annular bosses

36 and 38 which extend axially from the inner surface thereof as is best seen in FIG. 4. A multiplicity of holes 40 are provided in the web of the flange 34 between the

bosses

36, 38 in alignment with the holes 20 in the flange 14 of the outer section 10 so that the sections can be assembled in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter.

A pair of annular gaskets having a multiplicity of holes 46 spaced circumferentially thereabout are positioned adjacent the outer section 10 and inner section 28 respectively, and the holes 46 are aligned with the

holes

20, 40 in the

flanges

14, 34. A flow-directing member or eyeball 50 having a generally spherical external contour is provided with an axial passageway 52 therethrough. As is best seen in FIG. 4, the

passageway 52 tapers to a reduced diameter from the inlet end thereof, and an inwardly projecting lip 53 at the outlet end thereof provides a constricted outlet 54. The threaded fasteners or bolts 56 extend through the

holes

20, 40 and 46 to hold the parts of the flow-directing assembly together, and are secured therein by the nuts 58.

Turning now in detail to the assembly thereof upon the wall of a swimming pool or the like, the several FIGS. fragmentarily illustrate a type of aboveground pool which is widely employed and which has a corrugated metal sidewall 64 and a water-containing flexible synthetic plastic liner 66 on the inner surface thereof Both the sidewall 64 and the liner 66 are provided with holes 60 corresponding to the

holes

20, 40 and 46 in the elements of the flowdirecting assembly and the fasteners 56 extend therethrough. In addition, the sidewall 64 and liner 66 are provided with large apertures 62 which correspond with the apertures 48 in the gaskets 44 although they are of slightly larger dimension.

In assembling the device upon the sidewall 64, the outer section is assembled with one of the gaskets 44 with the holes and 46 thereof in alignment and is then placed against the outside surface of the sidewall 64 over the aperture 62 therein and in alignment with the holes 60. The inner section 28 is similarly assembled with a gasket 44 and the eyeball 50 is inserted into the apertures 48 of the gaskets 44 as the inner section 28 is placed over the aperture 62 in the liner 66 with the holes thereof in alignment with the holes 60 of the liner 66. The fasteners 56 are inserted through the inner section 28 and extend through the outer section 10; tightening of the nuts 58 secures the elements of the device in assembly on the sidewall 64 and causes the bosses l6, 18 of the outer section 10 and the

bosses

34, 36 of the inner section 28 to bear against the gaskets 44 to provide tight sealing action against the liner 66 and sidewall 64 respectively.

As assembled, the outer and

inner section

10, 28 of the housing provide a generally spherical chamber 68 in which the eyeball S0 is seated for pivotal movement. The gaskets 44 project inwardly of the chamber 68 intermediate the axial length thereof and the surfaces thereof circumscribing the apertures 48 therein bear against the surface of the eyeball 50 to form a fluidtight seal therewith. Moreover, the frictional contact therebetween allows the eyeball 50 to be positioned firmly in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of the inlet and

outlet openings

26, 54, thus enabling control of the direction of flow of water therethrough relative to the sidewall 64 upon pivoting thereof by insertion of a finger or tool into the lip 53 of the eyeball 50.

To complete the assembly of the device with the elements of the pool, a hose or the like (not shown) is attached to the coupling 24 from the filter or pump (not shown). In operation, the water will flow from the source through the coupling 24 and into the spherical chamber 68. Thence it will enter into the passageway 52 of the eyeball and be discharged through the outlet 54 thereof in a constricted and higher velocity stream in the angular attitude relative to the sidewall 64 of the pool determined by the manner in which the eyeball is pivoted. The flow may be directed against the sidewall 64 and liner 66 of the pool if the entering stream is cold to avoid discomfort to the bathers or to facilitate removal of scum therefrom or it may be directed against the bottom of the pool to agitate and suspend any matter that may have accumulated thereat.

The configuration and dimensions of the housing for the assembly are not critical so long as they provide an interior chamber suitably dimensioned and configured to allow the flow-directing member to be pivotably mounted therein. Since the flow-directing member is to pivot about both a horizontal and a vertical axis, and preferably substantially universally therein, the configuration required for the cooperating surfaces of the chamber and the flow-directing member is generally spherical so that the interior chamber may be conveniently referred to as socketlike.

Although the configuration of the flow-directing member may vary from thatillustrated, it should in all cases conform externally fairly closely in configuration and dimensions to the chamber in the housing. However, one of the outstanding benefits of the invention resides in that'fact that the flowdirecting member need not be dimensioned for close-fitting contact with the inside wall of the housing defining chamber as is necessary in certain prior art devices to prevent leakage around the flow'directing member and to maintain it in a selected position; rather, in the instant assembly, the gasket which is retained in the chamber serves both of those functions.

The passageway through the flow-directing member must have an outlet end which is smaller than the outlet opening of the chamber since the attitude of the passageway would otherwise have little or no effect on the direction of flow from the assembly. Although the passageway may have a uniform cross section, preferably it is larger at the inlet end and tapers toward the outlet, and most desirably the inlet end of the passageway is larger than both the outlet end thereof and also the inlet to the chamber. A passageway having an inlet end larger than the chamber inlet maximizes the flow rate and reduces the possibility of water flowing about the flow-directing member rather than through the passageway as the flowdirecting member is angularly oriented. Providing the flow passageway with a relatively small outlet end increases the force of water issuing therefrom to enhance the agitation effected thereby; a passageway such as that illustrated, which tapers to the outlet is particularly advantageous since it im proves flow and maximizes that effect. The outlet end of the flow-directing member preferably projects through the outlet opening of the chamber for ready access and maximum directional control. v

A most important feature of the assembly described herein is the provision of at least one flexible gasket which extends within the interior chamber and which must have an aperture which is dimensioned to conform closely to the surface of the flow-directing member seated therein during operation of the device. This relationship may be provided by designing the flow-directing member and gasket so that the diameter of the cross section of the flow-directing member in the plane of the aperture is at least as large as the diameter of the aperture or even slightly larger. However, since the material used for the gasket may, in some instances, have a tendency to swell during use, the aperture may initially be somewhat larger than the corresponding section of the flow-directing member. It should be appreciated that the gasket need not be positioned to engage the center of the flow-directing member, but may be positioned to either side of its horizontal centerline, in which case the aperture through the gasket will generally be smaller than the diameter of the flow-directing member.

Although a single gasket may be employed, the assembly most desirably includes a pair of gaskets which extend outwardly of the socket portion to provide a seal against the sidewall of the stnicture in which it is mounted. Most effective protection against leakage from the area around the assembly is provided by a peripheral or circumferential flange on the housing which bears against such an outwardly extending gasket portion to from a tight seal with the sidewall. The efficiency of the seal is further enhanced by providing annular bosses or ribs on the flanges which tend to localize the force exerted by the fastening means thereon on limited contact areas between the sidewall and gasket about the opening in the sidewall, thus creating greater sealing contact pressure to resist water passage and leakage.

Although the type of flange heretofore illustrated and described is a highly desirable structure for mounting the parts of the assembly on the sidewall, other mounting means may be substituted therefor as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The type of fastening means or members employed will depend upon the design of the mounting means, but it is highly desirable to utilize members which can be used to assemble the parts by axial movement only of the two housing sections rather than by rotating such sections against the sidewall or a gasket, such as is the case when the sections of the assembly are interengaged by threaded portions thereon. For example,

if the front section and rear section of the assembly illustrated.

were provided with cooperating threaded surfaces by which they were joined, at least one of the sections would have to be turned against the flexible liner employed or a gasket, which would tend to wrinkle or crimp theadjacent element which, in turn, would tend to cause leakage. Moreover, threaded sections require that a sealant be applied to the threads as a further safeguard against leakage, and this requirement is also somewhat less desirable.

The fastening means may be bolts inserted through holes in the assembly and the sidewall and secured by nuts; alternatively, pins, screws, rivets, and the like may be substituted therefor, and it should be understood that reference herein to restricting relative rotation is with regard to the sections of the assembly, and not-with regard to the fastening means employed therewith.

The parts of the assembly may be constructed of various materials, but most desirably the housing sections are made of a durable, rigid synthetic plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene/acrylonitrile/butadiene graft polymer blends, polyamides, polycarbonate, etc. Such materials may be readily fabricated and provide the characteristics necessary for proper operation. The gasket should be made of a resilient material which is also durable enough to bear continuously upon the flow-directing member without undue permanent distortion or wear thereof to form a seal thereat and restrain its movement. Natural or synthetic rubber or other resins may be suitable, either per se or as impregnants for a fiber matrix. All of the parts of the assembly should be unaffected by water, although the gasket may desirably swell somewhat to enhance the surface engagement with the flow-directing member.

To assemble the device illustrated in the sidewall of a conventional aboveground swimming pool, it is only necessary to drill holes in the metal wall thereof for the fastening members, to cut an aperture for the flow-directing member, and to cut the plastic liner to correspond thereto. Preferably an adhesive or cement is applied between the steel wall and the plastic.

liner adjacent the various holes and apertures, after which the flow-directing member is inserted in the aperture. The gaskets are then positioned on'the sidewall of the pool, and the front and rear sections of the housing assembly are placed thereabout and secured with the bolts and nuts provided.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a flow-directing assembly which is relatively simple in construction and which requires relatively few parts, rendering it economical to manufacture. The assembly provides highly effective seals, both internally about the flow passage therethrough and with the structurein which it is mounted, and the parts of the assembly are engageable without relative rotation thereof such as tends to cause crimping or wrinkling of the pool liner or gaskets adjacent thereto. The angular attitude of the flow passage through the flow-directing member can be readily altered without-the need for disassembly or loosening of the elements of the assembly, and yet tight-fitting seals are maintained therein.

We claim:

l. A liquid flow-directing assembly comprising a housing having a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber with opposed inlet and outlet openings thereto; a generally spherical flow-directing member seated in said chamber and having an axial passageway therethrough with an outlet end smaller than said outlet opening, said flow-directing member being pivotable in said chamber to position said passageway between said inlet and outlet openings in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of said inlet and outlet openings to control the direction of flow of liquid through said socket portion; and an inherently resilient, substantially nonporous rubber gasket retained in said socket portion and projecting into said chamber, said gasket having a circular aperture in which said flow-directing member is seated, said aperture and flow directing member being cooperatively dimensioned to provide snug seating of said member during operation of the assembly with the frictional contact therebetween resulting from the inherent resiliency of said gasket operating to restrain pivotal movement of said member and provide an effective liquid seal therebetween.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes means disposed about the periphery of said housing for engaging the sidewall of a swimming pool or like structure and for mounting said assembly in an aperture in the sidewall thereof.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing has a front section providing said outlet opening for mounting on the inside of the sidewall and a rear section providing said inlet opening for mounting on the outside of the sidewall, both of said sections having complementary peripheral flanges for contact with opposite surfaces of the sidewall about the aperture therein, and wherein a plurality of fastening members extend axially through said flanges to mount said sections on the sidewall.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein a pair of gaskets are included and extend radially between said peripheral flanges at the points of engagement thereof and are adapted to be disposed on opposite surfaces of the sidewall to form a seal thereabout.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said peripheral flanges each have circumferential bosses extending towards each other on the surfaces mountable adjacent the sidewall to provide'pressure points acting on said gaskets to enhance the effectiveness of the seal with sidewall.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the inlet end of said axial passageway is larger than said outlet end and said inlet opening.

7. In a swimming pool assembly, a sidewall having an aperture therethrough and a flow-directing assembly mounted on said sidewall in said aperture, said flow-directing assembly comprising a housing having a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber with opposed inlet and outlet openings thereto, a generally spherical flow-directing member seated in said chamber and having an axial passageway therethrough with an outlet end smaller than said outlet opening, said flowaiirecting member being pivotable in said chamber to position said passageway between said inlet and outlet openings in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of said inlet and outlet openings to control the direction of flow of water through said socket portion and into said swimming pool, an inherently resilient, substantially nonporous rubber gasket retained in said socket portion, projecting into said chamber, and having a circular aperture in which said flow-directing member is seated, and fastening means securing said flow-directing assembly on said sidewall, said aperture and flow-directing member being cooperatively dimensional and configured to provide snug seating of said member during operation of the pool with the frictional contact therebetween resulting from the inherent resiliency of said gasket operating to restrain pivotal movement of said member and provide an effective water seal therebetween, said frictional contact permitting pivoting of said flow-directing member into a desired position relative to the sidewall of the pool and holding of said member in said position so as to direct the flow of water in a desired manner.

8. The swimming pool assembly of claim 7 wherein said housing has a front section providing said outlet opening mounted on the inside of said sidewall and a rear section providing said inlet opening mounted on the outside of said sidewall, both of said front andrear sections having complementary peripheral flanges extending along the surfaces of said sidewall about the aperture therein, said fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members extending axially through said'flang'es and said sidewall to mount said sections on said sidewall.

9. The swimming pool of claim 8 wherein a gasket is provided on each surface of said sidewall and extends radially points acting on the gasket to enhance the effectiveness of the seal with said sidewall, and wherein the annular end of said axial passageway is larger than said outlet end and said inlet opening.

Claims

1. A liquid flow-directing assembly comprising a housing having a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber with opposed inlet and outlet openings thereto; a generally spherical flow-directing member seated in said chamber and having an axial passageway therethrough with an outlet end smaller than said outlet opening, said flow-directing member being pivotable in said chamber to position said passageway between said inlet and outlet openings in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of said inlet and outlet openings to control the direction of flow of liquid through said socket portion; and an inherently resilient, substantially nonporous rubber gasket retained in said socket portion and projecting into said chamber, said gasket having a circular aperture in which said flow-directing member is seated, said aperture and flow directing member being cooperatively dimensioned to provide snug seating of said member during operation of the assembly with the frictional contact therebetween resulting from the inherent resiliency of said gasket operating to restrain pivotal movement of said member and provide an effective liquid seal therebetween.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said peripheral flanges each have circumferential bosses extending towards each other on the surfaces mountable adjacent the sidewall to provide pressure points acting on said gaskets to enhance the effectiveness of the seal with sidewall.

7. In a swimming pool assembly, a sidewall having an aperture therethrough and a flow-directing assembly mounted on said sidewall in said aperture, said flow-directing assembly comprising a housing Having a socket portion defining a generally spherical chamber with opposed inlet and outlet openings thereto, a generally spherical flow-directing member seated in said chamber and having an axial passageway therethrough with an outlet end smaller than said outlet opening, said flow-directing member being pivotable in said chamber to position said passageway between said inlet and outlet openings in a multiplicity of angular attitudes relative to the axis between the centers of said inlet and outlet openings to control the direction of flow of water through said socket portion and into said swimming pool, an inherently resilient, substantially nonporous rubber gasket retained in said socket portion, projecting into said chamber, and having a circular aperture in which said flow-directing member is seated, and fastening means securing said flow-directing assembly on said sidewall, said aperture and flow-directing member being cooperatively dimensional and configured to provide snug seating of said member during operation of the pool with the frictional contact therebetween resulting from the inherent resiliency of said gasket operating to restrain pivotal movement of said member and provide an effective water seal therebetween, said frictional contact permitting pivoting of said flow-directing member into a desired position relative to the sidewall of the pool and holding of said member in said position so as to direct the flow of water in a desired manner.

8. The swimming pool assembly of claim 7 wherein said housing has a front section providing said outlet opening mounted on the inside of said sidewall and a rear section providing said inlet opening mounted on the outside of said sidewall, both of said front and rear sections having complementary peripheral flanges extending along the surfaces of said sidewall about the aperture therein, said fastening means comprising a plurality of fastening members extending axially through said flanges and said sidewall to mount said sections on said sidewall.

9. The swimming pool of claim 8 wherein a gasket is provided on each surface of said sidewall and extends radially between said peripheral flange and sidewall at the points of engagement thereof to provide a seal about the aperture in said sidewall, wherein said peripheral flanges have circumferential bosses on their inner surfaces to provide pressure points acting on the gasket to enhance the effectiveness of the seal with said sidewall, and wherein the annular end of said axial passageway is larger than said outlet end and said inlet opening.